Ekta Bisht, star of the Indian cricket team in the ICC Women’s World Cup on Sunday,not just due to sheer talent and hard work but also her family has toiled, often through dark days and cold wintry nights in Almora, Uttarakhand, to get her where she is now.
Her father, Kundan Singh Bisht, had to sell tea after retiring as Havaldar from the Indian Army to make ends meet. Kundan had to support his family, which includes two more children and his wife, with ainadequate pension of Rs 1,500 after he retired from the Army in 1988. To increase his income and to give wings to his young daughter’s dream, he opened a tea stall in Almora.
She got five wickets and won the Player of the Match award in the match against Pakistan in England.
Ekta’s parents said that their daughter always dared to do things others could only think of. “She loved the sport so much that she started playing cricket with boys. People would come and watch because she was the only girl in a team of boys,” her mother Tara said. She added, “It puts a strain on our finances but we supported her fully. She was a responsible child and would save the money we gave her during trials. Our finances improved after she was selected for the cricket team as sponsors started pouring in. Eventually, my husband’s pension also increased and we could finally shut down the tea stall.”
Ekta was captain of the Uttarakhand cricket team in 2006 and played for UP from 2007 to 2010. Her former coach Liyakat Ali Khan said that there was a phase in her life when she was very disheartened as was unable to make it to the national team.
“This phase lasted from 2006 to 2010, but I kept trying to motivate her and finally she was able to realize her dream. Her talent allowed her to surpass many difficulties, including the fact there was not even a proper stadium in Almora for her to training.” said Khan.
